“The third of the month is Overdose Day. They’ve gone without. They’ve used all their money up. And they’ve kind of gotten a little bit clean. So when they go to buy drugs, when their SSI and their disability checks come in, it hits them hard. And the calls come in: overdose, overdose, overdose.”
“The quality of the drug varies. They’ll get used to something and then the stronger stuff comes out.”
“And the last time they used, it didn’t do anything. They’ve been without for a week or a week and a half, so they double the dose.”
“Or lace it with something else. One time someone cut heroin with fentanyl, an opiate”
“They make these fentanyl patches, too, and people chew them or smoke them. They poke holes in the patch, lay it on aluminum foil, heat it, and inhale the vapors. That is an extremely strong high they get off of it.”
“I’ve seen people save their urine, let it dry out and crystalize, crush it, and resmoke it.”
“You can’t take care of those who don’t want to take care of themselves. I learned that a long time ago. You can just give them some chips, and a sandwich, and a bottle of water.”
“What’s your biggest need right now with the work that you do?”
“More help.”
(Poplar Bluff, MO)